Pages

Feb 23, 2012

Taken this morning, when this little cutie was supposed to be napping. She obviously is not.

Not for lack of trying on my part, I assure you. Bless her little heart (and mine as well), but this girl has gotten fussy! I think that it's reflux, as after she eats is a problem time, but Lord only knows! We go to the pediatrician tomorrow on Dell Harper's 4 week(!) birthday, so hopefully he will have some answers.

I'm actually hoping it's reflux, as opposed to the vague label of colic. I'm a goal oriented person! I need to be able to fix my little one when she is suffering, but am learning the foibles of motherhood quite quickly.

So if any of y'all have advice for reflux, please throw it on me! She is sleeping upright now, in her nap nanny, or a rocking little bed thing, which has helped. Next step is to elevate the crib- poor thing just arches her back, wheezes, and lets loose with an ear piercing wail. I have confused myself thoroughly by consuming way too much information- now am consumed with doubt when I let her cry herself to sleep, or when I pick her up and let her hang on my shoulder. This combined with a lack of sleep and lingering hormones means that I am taking a break from baby books! (Damn you Kindle and ability to order stuff at three o'clock in the morning while nursing).

So excuse once again my radio silence as I muddle through my baby's crying spells- any advice is appreciated!

Feb 14, 2012

For those of you who commented that Miss Dell Harper is the spitting image of me, I photographed some pictures from my baby book for comparison.

It's rather uncanny. . .

Last night Hubs had to be in Asheville for the night, so my little girl and I were on our own for the first time. This of course was the night she decided to throw her first full on hissy fit. And my prescription strength ibuprofen ran out. And I lost her pacifier somewhere in the house.

So I remembered my daddy mentioning that he spent hours driving around the winding roads near my parents' house with me when I was a baby to calm me down. Feeling quite frazzled, I lugged Dell Harper in her carrier and took off. Thank goodness I am done with my doctor mandated no driving for two week period!

We cruised, and she calmed down, until I made the mistake of hitting Chick-Fil-A for a large diet coke. The lull in driving necessitated by the drive thru brought her back to full on wail.

Well, the lull and the fact that I blindly groped her while in said drive thru to make sure she was still alive. Poking a sleeping baby is idiotic yet irresistible, I have discovered.

So we hit the road. The same roads that soothed me as a baby, and as a teenager. I loved to put on Radiohead or something equally depressing, and detour down by the lake as a teen on my home if feeling a little down. I had an old decrepit Porsche 914 (sounds much more grand than the reality- it's worth likely consisted of scrap value). When it was actually running (rare occasions), I would fly along the twisty winding roads around my childhood home, to return rejuvenated.

So that's what my mini-me and I did last night. Driving much slower than I did in high school, and tuning out the screams with Motown. She settled down, and I came home to greet my parents who picked up some new pacifiers and my refill of Ibuprofen. Sweet relief for all, and no more tantrums.

Apparently, someone has her mother's lung capacity. . . little nervous for her teenage years already.

Feb 13, 2012

So, I have dropped off the face of the earth, but have a fairly decent reason. We met Dell Harper bright and early Friday January 27th. It is complete cliche, but I fell in love at first sight.

After three nights in the hospital, recovering from the Cesarean and ensuing spinal headache (more on that later), we have been home in a happy fog of feeding, diaper changing and napping. Fortunately, we are both excellent nappers, as this little girl has me up all night nursing. She loves to eat, which I am extremely grateful (although a trifle sore!).

Dell Harper is named after Hubs' mother Dell Morgan, and my maiden name. Her mother has put the kibosh on any DH abbreviations, so hopefully that ban will stick. It's still so strange to refer to myself as "her mother", or say "our daughter". Strange, but exciting.

Also strange? Not minding missing the big super bowl party, or cotillion to hang with Dell Harper in her bouncy seat instead. I'm sure my social desires will resume soon- we did have a big outing to Paige's shower yesterday- so exciting to put on a non-maternity dress, and regular tights. I look at this picture, a week before she was born, and marvel at the changes I have undergone since- I feel wonderful holding her 7 pounds and 1 ounce in my arms instead of inside me!

Elene just had her baby girl, and Simonne is having a little girl next month- lots of buddies coming for Miss Dell Harper. I am feeling healthy and happy, but we are moving slowly for now. It has taken me over an hour to write this post, and form any halfway intelligent communication.

Pacing ourselves with lots of nap (time for one for mama and baby right now, actually), and cuddles. Buddy is a watchful and concerned big brother- ready to lick at the slightest whimper.

So, back to sneaking in a little rest before her next feeding- I need my rest to prepare for bath time tonight.
I promise not to be a stranger, and actually post something besides pictures of my little squirmy worm next time. Also, I have been keeping up with everyone's blogs the last week in the wee small hours of the morning, as I have mastered iPhone use while nursing. However, commenting is beyond my realm of one handed skills currently (I'm sure I will be a pro at it in the next couple of months)